Pascal's wager

Originally posted by dj2becker
Because I have experienced the power of God in my life and experienced forgiveness of sin and I am no longer a slave of sin. I have also experience God speaking to me through his Holy Spirit when I read the Bible. God promises to send the Holy Spirit to those that obey Him. I have found the promises of the Bible to be true. I have found that God is a reali ...[text shortened]... xperienced deliverance and the peace that passes all understanding that accompanies forgiveness.

I don't think that you and others who interpret the bible the same way you do are unique in this claim. Most xians will tell you that they've experienced God and that that is how they know they are right. Nevertheless, there is a vast discord among xians arising primarily from the interpretation of the bible.

Originally posted by telerion
I don't think that you and others who interpret the bible the same way you do are unique in this claim. Most xians will tell you that they've experienced God and that that is how they know they are right. Nevertheless, there is a vast discord among xians arising primarily from the interpretation of the bible.

Most times people want to interpret the Bible differently if they are living in sin. This is usually done to try and justify their sin.

Christ said that unless we become as little children we will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Scripture is written in such a way that even a child can understand it.

Originally posted by dj2becker
Christ said that unless we become as little children we will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Scripture is written in such a way that even a child can understand it.

What is your interpretation of this verse?

"26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26

...and how do you think a child would interpret it?

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
What is your interpretation of this verse?

"26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26

...and how do you think a child would interpret it?

In my humble opinion the meaning of the verse if taken in context is quite clear. Christ must be loved supremely, or he is not loved at all. If we are not willing to give up all earthly possessions, and forsake all earthly friends, and if we do not obey him rather than all others, we have no true attachment to him.

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
What is your interpretation of this verse?

"26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26

...and how do you think a child would interpret it?

*[duplicate post moderated]*

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
What is your interpretation of this verse?

"26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26

...and how do you think a child would interpret it?

OK. I think that when a verse is unclear it should be interpreted using another portion of scripture. (Even a child will understand this)

1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Matthew 10:37 - He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Any child would realise that we should love Christ in such a way that comparitively it would be like hate.

Originally posted by dj2becker
Most times people want to interpret the Bible differently if they are living in sin. This is usually done to try and justify their sin.

Christ said that unless we become as little children we will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Scripture is written in such a way that even a child can understand it.

Most times people want to interpret the Bible differently if they are living in sin. This is usually done to try and justify their sin.

From what I can tell most of these people are live less sinful lives than you, so I find your answer very meaningful. Nevertheless, should I presume that you are interpreting the bible so as to justify your own sin?

Originally posted by Halitose
In my humble opinion the meaning of the verse if taken in context is quite clear. Christ must be loved supremely, or he is not loved at all. If we are not willing to give up all earthly possessions, and forsake all earthly friends, and if we do not obey him rather than all others, we have no true attachment to him.

So, why do you own/use a computer?

The point, I think, is how literally you take something like this. I don't think the intent of the verse is the issue, it's the question of degree. What must you do to 'hate' your family?

I think the 2nd response is nearer the mark when it talks about COMPARATIVELY loving God so much that everything else looks like hate. But that's still a tough ask.

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
What is your interpretation of this verse?

"26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26

...and how do you think a child would interpret it?

Halitose and/or dj2becker-

How do you think a child might interpret the above verse?

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
Halitose and/or dj2becker-

How do you think a child might interpret the above verse?

Is that translation right? I hope not, that is SICK.

Originally posted by Halitose
In my humble opinion the meaning of the verse if taken in context is quite clear. Christ must be loved supremely, or he is not loved at all. If we are not willing to give up all earthly possessions, and forsake all earthly friends, and if we do not obey him rather than all others, we have no true attachment to him.

Why do you think christ chose to explicitly state that you must 'hate your father and mother' instead of saying something like 'you must love god above all others'?

Originally posted by dj2becker
OK. I think that when a verse is unclear it should be interpreted using another portion of scripture. (Even a child will understand this)

1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Matthew 10:37 - He that lo ...[text shortened]... would realise that we should love Christ in such a way that comparitively it would be like hate.

Originally posted by dj2becker
OK. I think that when a verse is unclear it should be interpreted using another portion of scripture. (Even a child will understand this)

I think it's more natural for a child to expect the passage to stand on its own, and to be written with a clear meaning. I don't imagine that most kids would make a research project out of this unless prodded by adults.

Originally posted by dj2becker
1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

This establishes that the believer is not necessarily supposed to hate everyone. However, it also means that one of the verses isn't literal (or else you have a contradiction). Interpretation comes into play. This isn't a child's strong point.

Originally posted by dj2becker
Matthew 10:37 - He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

This one sounds more politically correct than the verse from Luke. Any idea why christ would use the Luke 14:26 wording instead of this version?

Originally posted by dj2becker
Any child would realise that we should love Christ in such a way that comparitively it would be like hate.

It's more likely that a child would be confused by the verse, and resort to asking an adult what it means.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Is that translation right? I hope not, that is SICK.

I would certainly hate (literally!) to have to defend the bible as literal truth.